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J. W. SPANGLER';

' s Sheets-Sheet 1.

CORN PLANTBR.

(No Model.)

J. W. SPA NGLER.

(No Model.) 68heets-Sheet 2..

CORN PLANTER.

Patented Jan. 7, 1890.

in) Model.) I a Sheets- Sheet a. 4

' J. W. SPAlIGrLER.

CORN PLANTER.

No. 418,823. F Patented Jan. 7, 1-890.

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J.-W. SPANGLER.

CORN PLANTER. V No. 418,823; Patented. Jan. 7, 1890.

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' (No'ModeL) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6,-

J. W. SPAN GLER.

I CORN PLANTBR; No. 418,823. Patented Jan. '7, 1890.

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u. PETERS, Pholoiilhographer, Wnhingim, n. c.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.- J. w. SPANGLER.

v GORN PLANTER' v No. 418.823. Patented Jan. 7, 1890.

3 Q My? 11v VEJVTOR' M .dttorney view at Fig. 2.

v UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JACOB W. SPANGLER, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA. 7

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part, of Letters Patent-No. 418,823, dated January*7, 1890; Application filed March 26, 1888. Renewed June 10, 1889-Serial No. 313,718. (No model.)

ful Improvement in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to a machine for plant ing corn, beans, and peasin hills or broadcast.

One object of the invention is to provide an efficient seed or kernelfeed for such machines, andanother object is to provide interchangeableparts for adapting the machine for planting peas, beans, and the like.Still other objects are to provide a driving mechanism for the feed,also a clamp for the coverers, and also a draft-regulator for themachine.

With this statement of the objects of the invention, taken in connectionwith the following detailed description of the machine and the claims,it is deemed superfluous to make a formal statement of what theinvention consists in.

In the accompanying drawings,-in the several figures of which like partsare similarly designated,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combinedcorn-planter and fertilizer-distributer with the casing-cap of thetransmittinggears removed, said cap being shown in detail at Fig. 1.Fig. 2 is aside elevation, partly in section, of the-grain or kernelfeed and adjacent parts with the brush, shown in end Fig. 3, is aperspective view of the draft-regulator clevis; Fig. 4:, details inperspective of the ejector. Fig; 5 is a plan view of the spider andadjacent parts, showing, in enlarged perspective at the right, the

gate or cut off detached. Fig. 6 is a plan view of thespider,feed-carrier, and gate orcut-off in position. Fig.7 is aplan viewofthe corn-feed complete, part of the box being broken away, and theframe being shown broken in front and rear of the box to comewithin thedrawingsight. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation taken in the plane of line 0000, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a crossse'ction of the detached box, lookingrearwardly. Fig. 10 is a similar sectional view of the bottom plate.Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the feed-carrier, feed-plate or ring, andcap therefor connected. Fig. 12 shows in perspective details ofdriving-shaft hanger. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the bean or peas feed;and Fig. 14 a rear view thereof, and Fig. 15 a perspective of thefeed-ring detached. Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views of details ofejector used with the. peas-feed. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of thecoverer-clamp or clipplate; and Figs. 19 and 20 vertical cross-sections,on a larger scale, of the two kinds of feeding devices complete.

The fertilizer-distributer A, plow B, boot O, drive-wheels D, handles E,and coverers F may be of any approved style; hence the details of theirconstruction are not illustrated, and will not, as they need not, bedescribed.

One main feature of my invention is the corn-planter proper, and of thisthe parts are shown in detail and now will be described.

In the example of my invention herein shown the metal frame G,hereinafter more fully described in proper place, supports the spider H,(see Figs. 2, 5, 6, 8, 19, and 20,) which comprises the side pieces H H,resting on and secured to the frame and having bearings for thedriving-shaft I, the stretchers H connecting these sidepieces, andcross-piece H connecting the stretchers about midway of their length,and containing an adjustable one at each corner-and in addition is cast"with the throat H leading to the boot-or delivery-spout. One of the feetH is spread out flat, and made with boss H to form the bearing and axisfor a vibratory lever-gate or cut-off J.

' The gate J is of the general outline of an L or bell-crank leverhaving one of its ends J made as a toe or tappet, and the other Jextending over the throat and serving as the gate or cut-off proper. Thegate is held in position normally to close the throat, as by means of aspring (here shown as a coiled spring J set in a pocket in the foot Hand engaged by a lug J on the bottom of the gate. (See the detached gateat the right of Fig. The spring also serves to return the gate to theclosed position after having been l and is a valuable and importantfeature of forcibly opened. 7

The feed-carrier K (see Figs. (5, '7, and 11) is made as a skeletoncircular plate or disk, and is provided with a hub or journal K, wherebyit is fitted to rotate in the bearing 11 in the spider, and it is alsoprovided with teeth K with which the pinion I on the shaft I engages torotate said carrier. The rim or edge of this carrier is provided withcams or wipers K, which act upon the toe of the gate J periodically toopen the gate. I have shown one wiper for each two grain-cells in thecorn-planter ring; but this proportion may be varied. By making thecarrier in skeleton form the cost and weight of the casting is decreasedand said carrier will not accumulate dirt. The face of the carrier isprovided with registering pins K and these aid in securing theplanter-ring in position A screw bolt or pin K rises from thereon. thecenter of the carrier.

The planter-ring L is provided with holes to engage the pins K so as tocenter it upon the carrier. This ring is elevated centrally and combinedwith a dome-shaped cap M,

which with the ring is secured to the carrierby a nut K applied on topthe cap to the bolt K. Provision is thus made for the lateraldistribution of the seed in the box. The edge of the ring is dividedinto a suitable number of cells or pockets L, which are chamfered orsloped out in theirinnerleading corners to admit of effective work ofthe ejector (presently mentioned) in throwing out the seed from thesepockets into the throat and onto the gate.

"heh it is desired not to plant in hills, as for ensilage or fodder, thegate is held in the open position of Fig. 7 by a pin a, Fig. 1, insertedin a hole Z), Fig. 7, in the bottom plate next described.

A plate N, herein designated the bottom plate because it serves as abottom to the hopper or box, although not fixed to such boX, is securedby bolts (sto\ e-bolts) to the four feet H of the spider and rests uponsuch spider, one of these bolts passing through the boss or piv'ot H ofthe gate and serving in conjunction with the plate to hold in place thesaid gate. The bottom plate may be provided with any suitable devicesuchas lugst.o insure its proper register with the spider. The center ofthis plate is cut out circularly to make an opening N to surround thefeed-ring L, said .ring lying within 'the said opening, while the wipersK and, if desired, a portion of the rim of the carrier abut against theunder side of the said plate.

As shown in Fig. 10, the edges of the opening in the bottom plate arebeveled, and by this means a close fitting of such edges and thefeed-ring is not necessary to prevent cracking of the seeds. Thisconstruction thus attains a very important result in an operative andeconomical structural view,

my invention.

The bottom plate is provided with a lip N projecting above its plane andto align with the throat to form a guard therefor, and it is alsoprovided with a lip N to project beneath the carrier, with a mouth Nbetween the lips, which mouth forms the true throat or discharge-openingfor the feed, the gate traveling across this month and underneath thelips. The other end of the bottom plate is provided with an elevatedshelf N, which forms a seat for one end of the box or hopper.

The ejector (shown in detail in Fig. 4) consists of a star-wheel O,journaled to an arm 0, which is pivoted in a cap 0 the latter having aspring 0 arranged in a socked O to bear upon the arm 0, and thus holdthe star-wheel in forcible but yielding contact with the feed-ring. Thearm 0 has trunnions or lateral journals 0 which are engaged bybearing-cavities O in the cap 0 to form a pivotal connection of said armwith the said cap. The socket O" is open in front at O to straddle thearm 0 and admit of its vertical play. The cap is provided with abolt-hole O to receive a bolt passed up through and held from turning inthe bottom plate, whereby said cap is itself pivotally held to the saidbottom plate. A lug P stands up from the bottom plate near the inner endof the cap 0 and a set-screw I is arranged in this lug to bear againstsaid cap to throw it, and hence the star-wheel, into closer relation tothe feed-ring, or let it, as it naturally would do, fall away from suchring. The said starwheel is thrown in toward the feed-wheel in orderthat its points may begin their entry into the pockets or cells at themost distant leading point in the chamfered portions thereof, so as toget in front of the seed in such pockets or cells and so eject suchseeds without injury. The adjustment, then, of this star-wheel (ejector)will be governed largely by the shape and size of the seeds, and becauseof this capability of getting in well in front of or underneath theseeds my feed is adapted to kernels, however well ill or shaped, ofvarious sizes.

Of course, as will be understood, the starwheel receives a rotary motionfrom its engagement with the feed-ring and its pivotal connection withthe cap, the spring in said cap allowing a rising movement of the saidwheel, but at the same time normally depressing it into forcibleengagement with the feedring.

The box or hopper Q has no attached bottom,but comprises simply apartly-removable top, two side pieces, a front piece, and a metal backplate Q. By means of a rod Q having a hook g at one end to engage a hole9 in the shelf N of the bottom plate a clamping-nut Q, and hooks Q (seeFigs. 2 and 9) at the rear engaging holes in the bottom plate, the saidbox is bodily detachable from the feed IIO fixtures just described forgaining access to y the latter,'and in this connection it is noted thatthe feed-ring is removable also without detaching the bottom. plate fromthe frame.

The metal back plate Q is cut out at Q (see Fig. 8) and a patch-plate Qinsert'ed inside over it and made adjustable by a slot and stovebolt Qso as to adapt the box to feed-rings of different height; The plate Qalso has at its sides housings c d for a horizontal shaft e,

, which has'a squared portion 6 to receive a tact with the feed-ring asto clear off surplus seedfrom such ring, thus insuring the properfilling of the pockets or cells. The cylinder thus subserves thefunction of the brush commonly used. A shield or striker f is placed inan adjustable manner, as by a slot and stove-bolt or set-screw, over thecylinder inside the box to prevent the seeds from chokingthe saidcylinder.

worn out, it maybe removed from the square on the shaft and replaced bya fresh one.

That end of shaft 6 nearer the. cylinder is supported inanautomatically-yielding and independently-adjustable bearing composed, asshown in Fig. 2, of a bar g, pivoted to the box and having verticalplayin a hanger g, between which bar and hanger a spring g is disposed, saidspringnormally depressing the bar and permitting the automatic movementat this end of the said shaft.

The shaft I is provided with a gear-wheel R, driven as hereinafterdescribed, and the shaft 6 is provided with a change-gear h, which isdriven from said wheel R, and thereby imparts to the cylinder e the positive rotation before referred to. V

Some of the parts just described are inter changeable with peas or beansplanting devices, the details of which latter are shown in Figs. 13 and17. To adapt the feed for this purpose the box is removed, (by unhookingthe rod Q and then the cap M and feed-ring L are detached, andin placeof the feed-ring When the cylinder is;

shaft 41.

is arranged the feed-ring S, (shown in Figs. 13 and 15,) which isclamped down and covered by the same cap M. The feed-ring S is higher onits rim than the corn-feed ring, and the said rim is beveled and has thecells or pockets arranged thereon slantwise. In order to adapt the boxto this feed-ring, its patchplate Q is adjusted vertically, and theshaft 6 is also elevated, as by the means already described.

The star-wheel is replaced by a vibratory but non-rotating ejector T,(see Fig. 16,) the effective end T of which is reversely inclined andadapted to hug the rim of the feed-ring and direct or throw the seedfrom the pocketed feed-ring into the throat. This ejector is providedwith the lateral journals T T to be engaged by the bearings O of the cap0 as in the case of the corn-ejector hereinbefore. described, that capserving to hold this ejector T in the manner it holds the corn-ejectorand permitting the same play to it. In'order,

however, to wall up the space between this ejector and the box, whenceotherwise the seed would escape, I employ beneath the cap the plate U,which has an elevated curved face U, described in .an arc of a circle0on centric with the feed-wheel and arranged as 1. shown in-Fig. 13.This plate is provided with a squared hole U through which is passed thenon-rotating bolt O ,'used to secure the I ejector-cap to the bottomplate.

It is to be observed that I employ with this bean-feed ring the samefeed-carrier and the gate used with the corn-feeder; hence the samemethods of discharging or planting the .beans or peas may be followed asin the first instance.

Byuemploying my feed-carrier and feedring any desired number of beans toa hill .may be planted by employing a feed-ring Thequant-ity fed both ofthe fertilizer and of the seed and the distance for hilling areregulated by the speed of the machine, and

this is governed by change-gears, as I will now specify. Referring toFig. 1, theaxle or shaft D of the driving-wheelsD is provided with apinion 72, arranged in a case or hood D This case is extended above saidpinion, and is provided with a stud h, on which rotates the idler-pinionk meshing with pinion h, and on the face of this idlerpinion is abevel-tooth rirn- 77. which in turn drives a bcvel-gear'i, loose on ahorizontal One end of shaft i has a bearing in a lug i of thecase D andits other end is supported in an adjustable bearing j,

presently described. The bevel-gear i has a 4 erases rod 11 with ahand-lever i at the grips of the handles.

The wheels R and V for driving the seed and fertilizer feeds,respectively, have their faces formed with a series of concentric cir'cles of indented teeth, which constitute so many toothed wheels orchange-gears. These wheels R and V are engaged and driven by sprocket orcog wheels and k, which are loose on the shaft i, so as to be shifted orslipped longitudinally along said shaft from one circle of cogs toanother of the wheels R and V to change the speed of the feeds ascircumstances may require. In order to admit of this adjustment, and atthe same time hold the wheels 7c and 7c in engagement with wheels R andV, the bearingj is employed. (For details of this hearing see Fig. 12.)A bracket j is bolted to frame G, and this bracket has a rigid notchedtongue 7' and also eyesj. A lever j is pivoted at its lower end (as by abolt and nut, as shown) bet-ween the eyes of the bracketjf, and has aboxj for the shaft t" and a'passage j for the tongue j and a set-screw jabutting against the bracket and serving as a back-stop for the lever.The lever j is locked to the tonguej of the bracket by a forked wedge jwhich is also slotted and adj ustably secured to the said lever by abolt j, the forked end of the wedge engaging the notched end of the tO TFgUG. By releasing the wedge j from its engagement with this notchedtongue the lever 7" may be swung outwardly away from the machine,carrying with it the shaft t", disengaging the wheels 70 and 70' fromthe wheels R and V, and permitting the wheels 70 and k to be shiftedfrom one set of teeth to the other of the wheels R and V, which beingdone the lever is moved back and the wedge again engaged with the forkedtongue.

The coverers are adj ustably bound or clamped to the frame G by theclamps Fand clamp-binding bolt F The clamps F are pivoted at F to theframe G, and are held from displacement by a lug F which engages theframe. Offsets F and F in the clamps provide for the reception of thecoverers and admit of their ready adjustment vertically. The coverers,when thus arranged in the clamps F, are securely held by the bolt Fwhich passes crosswise of the machine from one clamp to the other, andis provided, of course, with the usual nut, which may be turned up toget the proper strain or tension on the clamps to hold the coverers.

The frame G (see Figs. 1 and 7 particularly) for lightness and strengthis composed of parallel bars of metal connected by a crosspiece G at therear and having their forward ends convergent to form a beam G betweenwhich the draft-regulator clevis is secured. (See details, Fig. 3.) Theclevis comprises a block Z, having a ribbed face Z, and secured betweenthe bars of the frame by a bolt Z The clevis proper m has a flanged basedescribing an arc of a circle and provided with ribs to match the ribbedface I of the block 15, the object of these interlocking ribs being toafford extended bearing'or holding surfaces for the clevis to hold itrigidly and admitof its vertical adjustment. The bolt Z passes through alongitudinal slot m in the flanged base of the clevis, and thus servesto bind it, with the block, within the ends of the frame G.

The clevis is provided with a laterally-projecting stud of to receivethe gage-wheel m, and is also provided with a draft-link m. B yadjusting the flanged base of this clevis not only is the line of draftchanged, but the elevation of the gage-wheel is correspondingly changed.

I have shown the plow and spider as bolted together to the frame; butthey may be 0therwise mounted thereon. So, also, many other details ofconstruction are shown in the drawings, but are not described, as theyare simply copied from the workingmachine from which said drawings weremade, and do not of necessity enter into the composition of thisinvention and maybe modified at pleasure.

Itis obviousthat either of the wheels in and may be wholly disengagedfrom their re spective wheels R and V by moving them along the shaft outof mesh with such wheels, and hence either the feed of the seed orfortilizer may be stopped.

Special attention is called to the capacity of the machine in the use ofthe cellular feedring and the gate combined. \Vith this combination cornmay be hilled one or two grains to the hill. As shown, with the gate inoperation two grains to a hill are dropped at a given distance. Now, ifthe gate be rendered inoperative one grain will be dropped at just halfthat distance. Thus I make the one ring do work ordinarily requiring tworings or feeders.

In those of my claims where I am silent as to the kind of feed-ring orlocation of the cells I wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, acellular or pocketed feed-ring irrespective of size, arrangement, orlocation of cells or pockets.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A fixed spider, a feed-carrier rotatably bornethereby, and interchangeable feedrings adapted to said carrier forfeeding corn, beans, and peas in hills or in a stream, as may bedesired, and a gate or cut-off pivoted in the discharge-throat andprovided with a tappet acted upon by Wipers on the feed-carrier to openthe throat periodically for planting in hills and returned by a spring,andadapted to be held open by extraneous means.

for sowing, all combined and arranged substantially as described.

2. A fixed spider,a feed-carrier revolubly borne thereby and providedwith peripheral wipers, a gate or cut-off for the dischargethroat havinga toe or-tappet and operated periodically by said wipers, and afeed-ring secured to the feed-carrier, substantially as described.

3. Afeeding device composed of a ring hav- 7 ing pockets or cells initsrim, the inner leading corners of which pockets'are sloped out,substantially as described.

4. A stationary spider having corner feet, a bottom plate secured to'the said feet and on top the spider, and having a month-piece for thedischarge-throat and a pivoted gate arranged in such mouth-piece to openand close the mouth, combined with a feed-carrier, and a feedring onsaid carrier arranged in an opening in said bottom plate, substantiallyas described.

5. The feed-ring having peripheral pockets or cells, combined with anejector having lateral journals at one end, a rigid cap having cavitiesto receive the journals of' the ejector, whereby said ejector is pivotedin the cap, and a spring interposed within the cap between itself andthe ejector to render the ejector vertically yielding to adapt it tocooperate with the cellular feed-ring to positively discharge the seedtherefrom, substantially as described.

6. The feed-ring, combined with an ejector having an effective end inengagement with the feed-ring and pivoted in a spring-cap, and aset-screw for regulating the proximity of the ejector and feed-ring,substantially as described.

7. The feed-ring having pockets or cells arranged in its rim, whichpockets or cells are sloped out in the inner corners of their leadingends, combined with astar-wheel ejector adapted to enter such pockets orcells through their sloped-out portions, and thus get beneath the seedand eject it without injury, substantially as described.

8. The bottom plate fixed to the spider and united with the feedingdevices, combined with the box, and a hooked bolt detachably connectingthe box to the bottom plate, substantially as described.

9. The box provided with a rear plate cut away and combined with anadjustable patchplate, substantially as described.

10. The box provided with an adjustable patch-plate and a rollerarranged in adj ustable bearings, substantially as described.

11. The shaft-hanger described, comprising a stationary bracket, a leverpivoted to said bracket and bearing the shaft, a stationary notchedtongue projecting from the bracket into engagement with the lever, and awedge for connecting and disconnecting the lever and tongue,substantially as described.

12. The coverers, combined with clampingplates secured to the frame atone end and united at their other ends by a tension or straining bolt,whereby said coverers are firmly but adj ustably secured to the frame,substantially as described.

13. The clevis having an arc-like slotted and ribbed base-flange,combined with a ribbed block, the frame, and a connectingbolt,substantially as described.

14. The clevis havingan arc-like slotted and ribbed base-flange, aribbed block, the frame, and a connecting-bolt, combined with agage-wheel carried by the said clevis, substantially as described.

15. The bottom plate N, having a central opening N provided with abeveled edge to obviate the necessity of millinga seat or rabbet for thefeeder, combined with the feeder arranged in said opening, substantiallyas described.

16. The spider provided with a foot H having a cavity and spring J 3therein, and a pivot or post H thereon, combined with ,a gate J,secfired to said pivot or post and hav-. ing a lug J 4 engaged by saidspring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,A. D. 1888.

JACOB W. SPANGLER.

Witnesses:

N. M. WANNER, W. H. SITLER.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 418,823.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 418,823, grantedJanuary 7,189 upon the application of Jacob W. Spangler, of York,Pennsylvania, for an improv ment in Corn-Planters, errors appear in theprinted specification requiring the fo lowing corrections, viz: Inlines114115, page 2, the clause however well ill or shaped should readhowever well or ill shaped, and in line 128 of same page the referenceetti g should read q, and the reference figure 9 should read q; and thatthe Lette: Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame may conform to t1 record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 21st day of January, A. D. 1890.

[SEAL] I CYRUS BUSSEY,

Assistant Secretary of the Intem'o Countersigned:

O. E. MITCHELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

